Today’s post is basically just a giant celebration. Because on Saturday, the cover for Stars and Soul started exploding across the internet. And when I say exploding, I mean e.x.p.lo.d.i.n.g. My phone would not stop buzzing.

Alea Harper designed a stunning cover, but I was honestly afraid it would be just me and like my dad (who has no social media) sharing the cover and inviting people to preorder.

Alea totally deserves to have this piece of art blasted across all the social medias, but I was worried people would be too uninterested/scared away because this I’m young, small potatoes, and self-publishing this little collection.

*cue my socks getting blown off and then blown up*

// What Is Stars and Soul? //

In case you’re new here, Stars and Soul is a collection of four flash fictions (stories under 1000 words) set in a sci-fi world with aliens and alliances. It is set to release November 20, 2018. Right now, the Kindle copy is available for pre-order, but there will also be a tiny paperback available on the release day.

Here is the official blurb: A scheming imperial family. A bedraggled starship captain. A runaway artificial intelligence. A dying general. Four small stories of stars and soul.

// The Social Media Turnout //

There were way too many Facebook posts, Instagram posts, Instagram stories, and blog posts to keep track of over the course of the cover reveal day. Some of you never signed up for the reveal but joined on the day of, and you blessed me so much.

Thank you so much to Mom, Arielle, Katie Grace, Moya Tobey, Abigayle Claire, Amanda Hookham, Liv K. Fisher, Carrie-Anne Thomas, Kira Thomas, Bethany Jennings, Jaye L. Knight, Savannah Grace, Mary Weber (freaking. Mary. Weber), Katherine Massengill, Julian Daventry, Pam Halter, Ashley Townsend, Lydia B., Jenni Wojtowicz, Julia Anne, Kenzie, Elizabeth Koetsier, Elizabeth Hafferty, Brittany Valentine, Dominique Sprouse, Nadine Brandes (um, what?), Emileigh Latham and Stephanie Warner for leading the charge on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. (I know there were more, but I literally couldn’t keep track of all the IG stories and Facebook shares.)

some #bookstagram posts

// The Blog Posts //

This hilarious, gif-ful reveal from Savannah at Inspiring Writes (also, Savvy just got on Instagram and Youtube, so go give her some love!!).

This lovely blog post from Serethiel over at The Book Sprite.

Jaye L. Knight also shared the cover with a blog post!

Katherine Massengill (a fellow flash fiction enthusiast who has participated in the Penprints Flash Fiction Dash) also featured the cover on her blog!

Julian Daventry (another #flashficdash alum!) also put together a blog post for the reveal!

// A Few Endorsements //

I’ve received some very glowing endorsements, and so I’m going to share them here first and then let them trickle out over my Facebook and Instagram as November 20th approaches. :)

When I made my list of people to contact about endorsements, I comprised it of people who a) know sci-fi, b) know flash fiction, or c) have experience with both. The people who agreed to read took my breath away with their words of encouragement and endorsements.

>> “Rosalie Valentine’s Stars and Soul opens a window into a galaxy rife with intrigue and danger, a place home to disparate peoples striving to survive. A scheming empress-in-waiting — a weary captain of a malfunctioning starship — androids seeking refuge — a general facing laments — all bring the ‘soul’ promised by the title in memorable ways. A fun, thoughtful, quick read.” — Steve Rzasa, author of The Face of the Deep series

>> “Rosalie Valentine needs no more than 1,000 words to send your emotions stirring. Her flash fiction is an art of storytelling blended with the human senses—leaving you both wanting more and yet extremely satisfied when you finish. I could lose myself in her writing all day.” – Nadine Brandes, author of the Out of Time series, Fawkes, and Romanov

>> “Rosalie Valentine has crafted an intriguing universe of flesh and machine that expands with each story told. Stars and Soul is sci-fi with heart and endings that leave you wanting more!” – Just B. Jordan, author of Never to Live and To Ashes We Run

I have no words. Please excuse me while I go bury my face in a pillow and shed some many tears.

// The Necessary Details //

You can pre-order Stars and Soul on Amazon, and you can add it on Goodreads, if you like. It will release on November 20, 2018.

#starsandsoul #starsandsoulcollection

Thank you all for blessing me. <3 My heart is so happy.

With love,

Rosalie <3

p.s. – that binary code on the cover, tho. Alea read the stories and scrolled through my Pinterest board, and I was so happy when she put code on the cover. You’ll know why later if you read the third Stars and Soul story.